County Magistrate Lin was puzzled.
"What do you mean, sir? I am too stupid to understand."
Xu Jing smiled faintly and said, "If you quit, you will return to Baiji County, where you are originally registered. The magistrate of Baiji County is also my subordinate, and he dares not disobey my words. Do you think you and your family can have a good life in Baiji County?"
County Magistrate Lin snorted coldly and said, "Are you planning to arrest the official and make an example of him?"
"Warning the monkey? Which monkey? Jin Zhubu?"
Jin Zhubu, who was inexplicably named, pricked up his ears to listen to how the two people were framing him.
Xu Jing smiled instead of getting angry. "It's not that I look down on you guys, it's just that you guys are mediocre and useless, useless as mud."
County Magistrate Lin was embarrassed by the public attack and immediately launched into a verbal attack. "Your Excellency, your words are a bit too harsh on me and others. As the saying goes, if the top beam is crooked, the bottom beam will be crooked. Do you think you have the right to say that?"
Xu Jing pulled out a booklet and tossed it to County Magistrate Lin. "In the past three years, there have been omissions in land surveying in Muhe County. Newly developed land hasn't been fully reclaimed, and the gentry own a lot of land, but pay very little tax. The bulk of the tax still goes to the farmers who toiled to cultivate the land. So, may I ask, County Magistrate Lin, what role did you play in this?"
County Magistrate Lin retorted, "This was not done by me alone. Jin Zhubu was also implicated. Why does Your Excellency only blame me and not him?"
"You admit you failed in your duty?"
County Magistrate Lin hesitated, unable to speak. Xu Jing sneered and said, "You haven't solved the land issue yet, and you still have the nerve to bring up the river project with me? There hasn't been any progress on the river project in the past three years. I'm going to ask, County Magistrate Lin, is this how you handled Muhe County's internal affairs in the two years before I took office?"
County Magistrate Lin's face flushed red as he retorted, "This is what Lord Jin had instructed me to do before. I..."
"He told you to handle it, but you haven't done it completely. County Magistrate Lin can shirk responsibility with just a few words. Will the people of Muhe County learn from you, County Magistrate Lin, and follow your example of a crooked top beam and crooked bottom beam?"
"You, you are simply going too far." County Magistrate Lin was scolded so much that he lost his mind. He stood up and was about to curse when he was stopped by Jin Zhubu. "My lord, please don't argue with County Magistrate Lin."
"Of course. I've been studying sage books since I was young. How could I have the same knowledge as County Magistrate Lin?"
Xu Jing glanced at Shi Dianli with a half-smile, and then said, "How much trouble have you caused Shi Dianli because you, County Magistrate Lin, can't distinguish right from wrong and handle things unclearly?
"Half of the peasants in prison are incarcerated because of your negligence, yet you walk away without a trace, while they continue to suffer in prison. Can you, County Magistrate Lin, live with your conscience?"
Shi Dianli was touched by Jiang Xuqing's words and agreed, "Indeed, if County Magistrate Lin had handled the matters instructed by the Lord properly, then there wouldn't be any problems. I wouldn't still be worried about the overcrowding in the prison and having no place to put them."
"You, you brought this upon yourself. How can you blame me?" County Magistrate Lin was about to retort when Xu Jing took over, saying, "Well, I know your crime is excusable. If it weren't for the previous Magistrate Jin, who took matters into his own hands and refused to delegate power, you wouldn't have to be so timid and cautious."
County Magistrate Lin nodded, finding Jiang Xuqing's words quite pleasing to the ear. It was indeed as he had said, that Magistrate Jin was meddling too much, and he had no choice but to deal with it as it came.
"Then, tomorrow, County Magistrate Lin will join me in solving the case and assist me in handling other matters concerning the prefecture."
County Magistrate Lin was shocked and said, "How can a humble official like me sit in charge of the prefectural government? My Lord, are you supporting me in my insubordination?"
"What does it matter? Don't you want to be the county magistrate? Then I will give you the power to take charge of Muhe County."
But Muhe County has already become Jianzhou, where does he get the right to become the prefect? Isn't Jiang Xuqing just fooling around?
County Magistrate Lin tried to shirk responsibility, but Xu Jing wasn't about to give him a cold shoulder. "I'll give you the power. If you can handle these three years of accumulated issues, I'll apologize to County Magistrate Lin in front of everyone. If you can't handle it well..."
Xu Jing chuckled and said, "Then just listen to me and do whatever I tell you to do. How about that?"
County Magistrate Lin hesitated, unable to believe he would dare to delegate power. "Are you really going to let me do it?"
"Yes, this official's words are as good as gold. I will never shirk my promises."
"I need money, lots of money."
Xu Jing asked, "Does measuring the land cost money?"
County Magistrate Lin shook his head.
"That's it. Just finish each thing first. Learn how to solve a case from me for a few days. From now on, it will be your responsibility."
"Sir, no," Jin Zhubu jumped in to object. "How can you be so hands-off and leave everything to County Magistrate Lin? What are we doing here?"
Xu Jing said, "I'll go get the money, and you, Mr. Jin, will be in charge of educating the students. I'll leave all the school affairs to you. If there's anything you don't understand, come back to me and I'll handle it for you."
Where did Jin Zhubu get the power to be in charge of the school affairs of the prefectural yamen? The county magistrate's yamen was already in trouble, let alone the prefect.
Sometimes too many surprises can turn into shock. How can an old man like him withstand so many surprises?
Xu Jing handed him a booklet. "Go back and take a good look at it. This is my summary of the school's affairs and common problems. If you don't understand anything, come and ask me. Shi Dianli, you will handle public security. If you don't understand anything, come and ask me. Everyone, disperse."
The three of them each held a booklet and went back confused.
County Magistrate Lin took some time to look through the booklet. He was confused at first. He could recognize all the Chinese characters, but he couldn't recognize them when they were put together.
After reading a few chapters, I suddenly understood everything and was able to handle things with ease.
After reading it in one breath, County Magistrate Lin completely changed his opinion of Jiang Xuqing. He had never expected that this mean-spirited man who only knew how to flatter others could compile such a classic book. It was really a waste of his talent.
The booklet provided by Jiang Xuqing is clearly organized and well-structured. Every rule and section is written in great detail, and every sentence is worth patiently savoring.
It covers issues such as land surveying, water affairs, and interpersonal relationships. I benefited a lot from reading it and it will be useful for my whole life.
After reading it, County Magistrate Lin was energized and began handling the affairs of the prefectural yamen with an unstoppable enthusiasm. Things that would normally take ten days or half a month to complete were now completed in just two or three days, greatly improving work efficiency.
The officials he led also benefited a lot. With the cooperation of both parties, the affairs that had been pending for three years were resolved in just half a year. It was really a pleasant surprise.
Because of his outstanding political achievements, Lin County Cheng was promoted to become a county magistrate. Of course, this is a story for later.
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